Ronaldo will walk into 2024 as top goal-scorer of 2023, with Mbappe and Kane close behind

As the year 2023 comes to a close, football fans witness Portuguese football great Cristiano Ronaldo walk into the new year as the highest goal scorer. However, a lot have argued on the level of importance goal-scoring carries in the Saudi Pro League. 

Cristiano Ronaldo is the top-scorer of 2023

• Portugal's football star, Cristiano Ronaldo, at 38, has clinched the title of 2023's leading goal-scorer. 

• In a recent standout match for Al Nassr, he netted twice in a 5-2 win against Al Ittihad, bringing his total to 53 goals, surpassing Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe. 

• Ronaldo's 17th Saudi Pro League goal this season, achieved with a brace against 10-man Al-Ittihad, propelled him ahead of the competition.

Top scorers of 2023

Here is a list of the  top goalscorers from 2023:

• Cristiano Ronaldo, playing for Al-Nassr, netted 53 goals in 58 matches. 

• Kylian Mbappe of PSG closely followed with 52 goals in 53 matches. 
• Harry Kane, now with Bayern Munich, also scored 52 goals in 57 matches. 
• Erling Haaland, representing Manchester City, achieved 50 goals in 60 matches. 
• Garbhan Coughlan from Cashmere Technical secured 41 goals in 27 matches. 
• Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC scored 40 goals in 53 matches. 
• German Cano, part of Fluminense, also notched 40 goals in 61 matches. 
• Lastly, Romelu Lukaku, playing for Roma, matched the 40-goal mark in 61 matches.

Do Saudi Pro league goals matter?

• Established in 1976 with eight teams, the Saudi Pro League now has 18 teams, but a significant gap separates the top and bottom. 
• The Saudi Public Investment Fund controls key teams, enabling them to spend heavily on players like Mane and Benzema.

• Ronaldo's move a year ago bolstered the formation of four dominant teams, underscoring the league's disparity. 
• To gain global attention, other teams need to match half the strength of PIF-operated sides. Until then, achievements like Ronaldo's will carry chances of being overlooked.